Creator's ultimate goal utopia

Page 7

FIRST PERSON

Ignoring the high levels of pollution, over-population, and rampant levels of poverty here in Mexico is a demanding task. I wish I could do something. Yet I'm reminded that my purpose here is one of observation. Solely.

My elder, Diane Reid, has invited me for a reason. The Journey of Peace and Dignity runners who left Alaska and Argentina in April finally joined together near Montezuma's temples of the sun and moon in Teoptihuacan.

While simultaneously timed Columbus celebrations only a few miles away honored the seagull and pigeon, 1992 marked the 500 years of resistance and the long-ago prophesied bonding of the eagle and condor.

In a nutshell, here is what it was all about. Native people on both the North and South American continents are fed up with the mental and physical genocide currently practised by society. To clarify, I mean the lie that says we crossed over by the Bering strait 40,000 years ago, the artificial man-made borders of country, nationality, and polities. The current environmental degradation (you think Canada's bad? Go visit South America and see rivers of pure sewage!) It had to stop. And it will.

The goal of the Peace and Dignity Journey was to eliminate (spiritually at least) all classifications such as race, color and religion and unite as one people again. Beautifully decorated bandanas made for the event say it best with "Un solo pueblo, una sola raza, un solo dios."

If physical manifestations, begin with the spirit, the look of things to come appears to be utopia - surely the original intent of the Creator.

Who attended? Thousands of people, of Native and non-Native origin. They swarmed the Teotichuacan pyramids during the gathering, mostly to witness the runners arrive, but also to attend the enduring ceremonies where spiritual leaders from different tribes took part. Wallace Black Elk was one of the ceremonial chiefs. At six-foot-four, I can certainly attest the man has presence. Meeting was a great honor.

When I wasn't climbing the temples, my energies were directed towards watching the ceremonies - or people. I happened to run into some brave young Blackfoot men from Cardston, Alta. They had joined in on the run from Fort McLeod on June 6. Four, long, tortuous months of enduring the heat, boredom, and physical pain was what they went through, not to mention avoiding snakes and tarantulas!

Kudos to you fellows! You are Robert Black Plume, Cory Little Shields, and Richard Cole. Your ancestors and loved ones will speak well of you.

Remember what I said about the poverty? It's true, there's lots of it. And you'll see more than your fair share of peddlers selling their goods on the streets and elsewhere. For the tender-hearted, I guarantee you'll feel for them. Just take the time to look at reality, too. Have you ever seen such a handsomely featured people? What about their kindness? Just ask them something and their faces light up in smiles as they try to help. Most may be exceedingly poor, but for them, happiness does not come from material wealth. They've learned to survive with next to nothing.

That's an important lesson.

Montezuma's revenge by-passed me. I ate everything Mexico had to offer and the only ache I had to contend with was an overfilled stomach. Perhaps I was lucky, I don't know. Maybe the only time something bad happens is when you worry.

I was down there for one week, and can't wait until the next opportunity arises. There's something about visiting another part of the world that awakens the adventurer in us. When we begin to think we have seen and done it all, a good dose of humility in the form of another culture can be the best remedy.